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Foot-and-mouth strain identified Foot-and-mouth strain identified
(about 2 hours later)
The strain of foot-and-mouth disease found at a Surrey farm has been identified, Defra has said.The strain of foot-and-mouth disease found at a Surrey farm has been identified, Defra has said.
The strain in infected cattle is identical to that used at the Institute for Animal Health, at Pirbright, about three miles from the farm. The strain in infected cattle is identical to that used for vaccines at the Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright, three miles from the farm.
Defra could not say the laboratory was the source but has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area.Defra could not say the laboratory was the source but has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area.
An urgent assessment of biosecurity has begun at the institute. An urgent assessment of bio security has begun at the institute.
Precautionary measuresPrecautionary measures
The strain is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories.The strain is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories.
In a statement Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain." In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain."
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186293595/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186293595/html/1.stm', '1186293676', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=554,height=671,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Defra has revised the protection and surveillance zones href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186293595/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186293595/html/1.stm', '1186293676', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=554,height=671,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map The strain was used in a vaccine batch manufactured on 16 July by a private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.
The strain was used in a vaccine batch manufactured last month by a private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.
The firm shares Pirbright with the government's Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which conducts research into foot-and-mouth and where the strain is also present.The firm shares Pirbright with the government's Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which conducts research into foot-and-mouth and where the strain is also present.
Defra has revised the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution.Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution.
Defra said: "This incident remains at an early stage. It is too soon to reach any firm conclusions. BBC science correspondent David Shukman said that if the virus did escape from the Pirbright laboratory, the question to ask was how.
"All potential sources of the virus will continue to be investigated. He said: "Like the manufacture of any vaccine to defend against a virus, this one used live virus in its production.
"All other precautionary measures announced yesterday [Friday] remain in place." "Experts are speculating that it may have escaped through the ventilation or a worker may have carried it out on a boot."
Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said it was too soon to say anything conclusive about the source of the virus but it was clear which strain was involved.Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said it was too soon to say anything conclusive about the source of the virus but it was clear which strain was involved.
"That is carried at the Pirbright facility, at Meriel for vaccine production, and indeed at the Institute for Animal Health, on the same premises on the same location for diagnostic purposes," she said."That is carried at the Pirbright facility, at Meriel for vaccine production, and indeed at the Institute for Animal Health, on the same premises on the same location for diagnostic purposes," she said.
Hopeful news
Microbiology expert Hugh Pennington said that if the source is identified as the Pirbright laboratory it could be welcome news.
He said: "If we know exactly where the virus has come from, and particularly if it's a vaccine type of virus, it's less likely to be a nasty virus.
"We know there isn't uncertainty about the source, so that means there isn't going to be virus in Cumbria or in Scotland, or in Wales from the same source as the virus that has caused this infection in Surry, it's a localised problem."
An urgent review has been launched into bio security measures at Pirbright, led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial University, who is due to report to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Dr Reynolds.
Defra said that it was too soon to reach any firm conclusions.
Merial said in a statement: "The decision to suspend production has been taken in full consultation with Defra and will enable Defra to carry out a thorough investigation into all possible sources of this outbreak."Merial said in a statement: "The decision to suspend production has been taken in full consultation with Defra and will enable Defra to carry out a thorough investigation into all possible sources of this outbreak."
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment What is foot-and-mouth?FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment What is foot-and-mouth?
The UK's chief vet has ordered a single protection zone to encompass both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius surveillance zone. Following the outbreak on the farm a 3km protection zone was put in place around the premises, close to the village of Wanborough, to try to halt the spread of the disease which wreaked havoc across the UK in 2001.
The UK's chief vet has now ordered a single protection zone to encompass both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius surveillance zone.
There is also an 8km air exclusion zone around the site.
There has been a cull of one other herd of cattle adjacent to the farm as a precautionary measure but there were no signs of infection in any animals there, Ms Reynolds confirmed.There has been a cull of one other herd of cattle adjacent to the farm as a precautionary measure but there were no signs of infection in any animals there, Ms Reynolds confirmed.
She appealed to farmers to be vigilant and to check their animals for any sign of foot-and-mouth disease.She appealed to farmers to be vigilant and to check their animals for any sign of foot-and-mouth disease.
Andrew Biggs, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: "It doesn't surprise me greatly. The proximity of this farm to Pirbright was something some of us had noticed."Andrew Biggs, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: "It doesn't surprise me greatly. The proximity of this farm to Pirbright was something some of us had noticed."
Leading microbiologist Hugh Pennington told the BBC that identification of the type of strain was a "tribute to the strength of the science of foot-and-mouth".
Paul Temple, of the National Farmers' Union, said he was keeping an open mind over the situation.Paul Temple, of the National Farmers' Union, said he was keeping an open mind over the situation.
HAVE YOUR SAY The outbreak is not the problem. It is the reaction (and response) to it that matters. MB, Edgware Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The outbreak is not the problem. It is the reaction (and response) to it that matters. MB, Edgware Send us your comments
A UK-wide ban on the movement of livestock put in place after foot-and-mouth was confirmed at Wolford farm, near Guildford, on Friday night will continue.A UK-wide ban on the movement of livestock put in place after foot-and-mouth was confirmed at Wolford farm, near Guildford, on Friday night will continue.
Some 64 cattle have since been culled at the farm after testing positive for the foot-and-mouth.Some 64 cattle have since been culled at the farm after testing positive for the foot-and-mouth.
Following the outbreak on this farm a 3km protection zone was put in place around the premises, close to the village of Wanborough, to try to halt the spread of the disease which wreaked havoc across the UK in 2001.
There was also a 10km surveillance zone where nearby animals are monitored, as well as an 8km air exclusion zone around the site.
On Saturday evening Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired his second Cobra emergency committee meeting of the day on the issue after he cut short his Dorset holiday to return to London.On Saturday evening Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired his second Cobra emergency committee meeting of the day on the issue after he cut short his Dorset holiday to return to London.
He is due to chair another meeting of Cobra on Sunday morning.He is due to chair another meeting of Cobra on Sunday morning.
The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5 million and 10 million animals being destroyed and cost as much as £8.5bn.The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5 million and 10 million animals being destroyed and cost as much as £8.5bn.
Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.